A great pair of glasses can make a huge difference. Not only can they look good, but they can also make you feel good and help you see better than you ever have. Of course, there are plenty of eyewear brands out there — and they’re not all created equal. Not only that, but eyewear itself can get expensive. And adding a prescription to the mix only increases the cost.
There are a few things you’ll need to consider before buying a new pair of glasses. For starters, you’ll want to make sure your prescription is up to date. That may mean going back to the optometrist if it’s been more than a year or two since your last visit. You’ll also want to have your pupillary distance — the distance between your pupils — measured, if possible. That will center your prescription within your frames, giving you a better result.
Apart from that, the other decisions you need to make are largely aesthetic. Some frame sizes and shapes suit some face sizes and shapes better, so trying out a few frames before you buy is always a good idea if it’s available.
Here are some of the best online eyewear brands around, and the options, prices and quality you can expect to get with each retailer.
Warby Parker: Best overall
Warby Parker has made a name for itself as one of the top online glasses sellers:
What they offer: single-vision and progressive lenses, as well as extra blue-light filtering lense and light-responsive options
Claim to fame: Try-on-at-home program
Not great for: Trifocal and bifocal lenses, which aren’t available
Price range: Prescription eyeglasses start at $95
The try-on-at-home program is a big selling point for Warby Parker. It allows you to select up to five frames to try on at home and test out over a five-day period. After that, you’d simply pop the glasses back in the box with the shipping label, and you’re good to go. You’d then be able to either test out more frames or select your pair and order. You’d need to provide your current prescription as well as your pupillary distance measurement. Warby Parker offers an easy online tool for that if it isn’t included in your prescription.
The company also has a good return policy — if you don’t like the frames that you order, you can return or exchange them for free within 30 days. That means that you shouldn’t get stuck with a pair of glasses that you don’t end up liking. Shipping is always free, too. And there’s a one-year no-scratch guarantee, with free replacements if it does happen during that time frame.
The glasses it sells are high-quality, too. Each pair comes with anti-scratch and anti-glare coatings with UV protection. Looking through the frames on offer at the website is pretty easy — you can filter them by color, fit, shape and material.
Ambr: Best for screen addicts
Ambr, another online glasses retailer, is known for its computer glasses, which are designed to reduce blue light from computer screens that put a strain on our eyes. The specialized lenses are available for prescription, non-prescription and readers, so even those with perfect vision can protect their eyes while working hours a day on a computer.
What they offer: Blue-light filtering lenses and “Ultra” lenses which block over 90% of blue light, as well as bifocals, progressive lenses and readers
Claim to fame: Clear computer glasses
Not great for: Trifocals, which aren’t offered
Price range: Frames are $64 — but costs could go up significantly depending on the type of lenses you go with
According to the company, blue-light filtering glasses can help relieve strain, improve sleep and even safeguard your vision. Their standard computer glasses filter out 55% of blue light, which the company says strikes a good balance between protecting your eyes and aesthetic appeal in the form of clear lenses. The Ultra version, on the other hand, filters out “over 90%” of blue light and has an orange tint. So it’s stronger but has a potential aesthetic tradeoff.
Ambr’s selection isn’t as wide-ranging as some others on the market — they offer just 12 models, and depending on the types of lenses you go with, your options may be even more limited — but there may be something there for most people. The frames are all unisex and designed to fit “99% of head sizes,” which helps, too. Those who are interested would need to select their frames, and add their prescription and pupillary distance information when checking out. And although Ambr doesn’t offer an online pupillary distance tool, it does provide a guide to help you measure yours, on the site.
Be aware that you won’t be able to try on their frames unless you’re located in Ireland, though the company does have a virtual try-on option you want to use. They also have a 30-day free refund policy, in addition to offering free standard shipping to the U.S.
EyeBuyDirect: Best for trying out something new
EyeBuyDirect has a huge selection, and it’s more affordable than the likes of Ambr and Warby Parker. It still has high-quality lenses, to be sure, though if you’re looking for designer frames or something similar, you may want to turn elsewhere.
What they offer: Progressive, single-vision distance and bifocal lenses, single-vision reading glasses, Transitions lenses, as well as blue-light blocking lens options
Claim to fame: Wide array of affordable options
Not great for: Trifocal lenses, designer frames
Price range: frames go from $6 to $70
Like Warby Parker and Ambr, EyeBuyDirect does not offer trifocal lenses, but its selection is still pretty solid. You’ll find a range of different styles, colors, shapes and materials, which can be bought with single-vision distance, bifocal and progressive lenses.
If you decide to buy from EyeBuyDirect, you’ll need to select your frames, including size and color, and be able to provide your glasses prescription and pupillary distance. They offer a downloadable ruler as well as instructions to help you figure it out. From there, choose your lenses and enter your payment information and you’ll be set to receive your frames in seven to 14 business days.
The company gives you a bit of wiggle room in the form of a 14-day ‘fit and style guarantee,’ which means you can make an equal exchange within that timeframe at no extra cost. And if you spend $99 in a calendar year, you automatically become a member of their loyalty program and have access to perks like free U.S. shipping and opportunities for 15 percent off a future purchase. Those who purchase from EyeBuyDirect can also get a free replacement of their frames within the first 365 days of purchasing, but only if there are defects in the material or workmanship.
While you don’t have an at-home try-on option here, the site does have a virtual mirror tool which you can use by selecting “Try On.” It allows you to upload a photo and see what frames might look like on you. The tool will be located either under the photo of a pair of frames if viewing on a search page or to the left of the photos on the product page.
Zenni: Best for budget frames
Zenni Optical’s mission is to bring high-quality eyewear to anyone who needs it, which is why it has opted for an online-only sales method. The website offers a huge range of glasses, and the frames themselves are relatively inexpensive.
What they offer: Bifocal, progressive and single-vision distance lenses as well as single-vision reading glasses; they can also fill prescriptions with prism corrections
Claim to fame: Inexpensive frames
Not great for: Quick deliveries and high-end frames; trifocal lenses are not sold on Zenni
Price range: frames go from $7 to $46
One nice thing about the retailer is that it’s not shy with throwing in extras. With every order, you’ll get an anti-scratch coating with UV protection at no extra cost.
There are a few downsides to Zenni, though. For starters, it isn’t as great at offering refunds as some of the others on this list, and it doesn’t refund for shipping any glasses back. If you return the glasses within 30 days due to a default, and they agree that there was a manufacturing error, they would remake the glasses for you without additional charges. Another potential drawback: Standard shipping within the U.S. takes a whopping 14 to 21 days and costs $5.
Still, considering the lower price-points, high-quality lenses and trendy styles, Zenni Optical could be a solid option. Again, if you want prescription glasses from Zenni, you’ll have to provide your prescription information, including your pupillary distance. The company doesn’t offer an online pupillary distance tool, but it does provide instructions for measuring it. And, unlike EyeBuyDirect and Ambr, you have both a 3-D video and a 2-D image virtual try-on option.
